Artificial island formed of hingedly interconnected pontoons

ABSTRACT

An artificial island in the form of a mobile offshore platform comprises a pontoon and at least three columns that are movable vertically relative to the pontoon to support the pontoon in lowered position or to float with the pontoon in raised position. The pontoon is sectional and the sections are pivotally interconnected for horizontal swinging movement relative to each other so that the sections can occupy different positions relative to each other when the platform is being transported and when the platform is emptied. Each section carries at least one of the columns. A suction dredge is carried by the pivot between two adjacent sections.

[451 Feb. 19, 1974 1 ARTIFICIAL ISLAND FORMED OF I-IINGEDLYINTERCONNECTED PONTOONS [75] Inventor: Robert De Groot, Westkinderdijk,

Netherlands [73] Assignee: N. .V. Industrieele lie am i fieNetherleeei[22] Filed: Jan. 17, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 218,206

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data Jan. 18, 1971 Netherlands 7100649[52] US. Cl 37/67, 37/72, 37/73, 61/465, 114/77, 114/235 R [51] Int. ClE02f 3/88, E02b 17/00 [58] Field of Search 9/2 R, 2 C; 114/5 D, 43.5,114/77, 235 R; 37/72, 67, 73; 61/34, 46.5

2,944,352 7/1960 Kaufmann.... 114/77 R X 180,622 8/1876 Murphy 114/30203,185 4/1878 Murphy 114/30 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 267,8061/1913 Germany 114/77 R 6,264 10/1912 Great Britain 37/73 PrimaryExaminer-Robert E. Pulfrey Assistant Examiner-Clifford D. CrowderAttorney, Agent, or FirmYoung & Thompson [5 7] ABSTRACT An artificialisland in the form of a mobile offshore platform comprises a pontoon andat least three columns that are movable vertically relative to thepontoon to support the pontoon in lowered position or to float with thepontoon in raised position. The pontoon is sectional and the sectionsare pivotally interconnected for horizontal swinging movement relativeto each other so that the sections can occupy different positionsrelative to each other when the platform is being transported and whenthe platform is emptied. Each section carries at least one of thecolumns. A suction dredge is carried by the pivot between two adjacentsections.

9 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures ARTIFICIAL ISLAND FORMED OF IIINGEDLYINTERCONNECTED PONTOONS The present invention relates to an artificialisland of the type sometimes referred to as a mobile offshore platform,comprising a buoyant pontoon and at least three columns which can bemoved vertically and locked against vertical movement relative to thepontoon. Such platforms float on the water when the columns are raisedand are transported by towing in this position. The platforms areemplacedby lowering the columns to supporting relation with the seafloor.

However, the mobile platforms of this general type are usually ofenormous size, and so it is often diflicult to control the movements ofthese structures when they float, for example, when moving such astructure through a waterway. 1

According, it is an object of the present invention to provide anartificial island of the type described above, which is readilyadaptable for movement both through waterways and on the open sea.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of anartificial island of the type described, in which special provision ismade for the mounting of an excavating device suchas a suction dredge.

Still another object of the present invention is the provision of anartificial island of the type described, which will be relatively simpleand inexpensive to manufacture and assemble, easy to transport, emplaceand remove, and rugged and durable in use.

Briefly, the objects of the present invention are achieved by providingan artificial island of the type comprising a pontoon with verticallymovable columns, in which the pontoon is sectional and comprises atleast two sections which are hingedly connected for relative horizontalswinging movement. Each section has at least one column.

Various shapes can thus be imparted to this structure, depending onwhether and under what conditions the structure is being transported, orwhether the structure is to be emplaced for use. It is thus possible,for example, to swing the sections into parallel relationship orabutting relationship or in-line relationship.

US Pat. No. 3,590,587 discloses an artificial island having at leastfive columns each of which is carried by and horizontally displaceablewithin a rotatable framework. U.S. Pat. No. 3,680,321 discloses anartificial island with at least six colums each of which is disposed ina rotatable framework and supported by a rotatable base. Theseconstructions make it possible to alter the direction of movement of theisland without having to float the island. In each case, however, theisland maintains the same bodily orientation and configuration.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, each section of thepontoon has at least two vertically movable columns at least one ofwhich is eccentrically disposed in a framework rotatable about avertical axis. This framework may be either as described in US. Pat. No.3,590,587 in which the column can be displaced also horizontallyrelative to the framework, or as in US. Pat. No. 3,680,321, in which thecolumn has a rotatable base. With such constructions, the hingedconnection between the pontoon sections makes it possible to swing thesections of the island relative to each other while the sections aresupported on the columns.

Dutch applications 125,626 and 68-03564, both of which have been laidopen to inspection, disclose such islands which also include anexcavating device such as a suction pipe with a cutter. The presentinvention also comprises an improvement in such islands provided with anexcavating device, in which the excavating device is universallypivotally mounted within the hinged connection between the sections ofthe pontoon. In this way, the universal mounting of the excavatingdevice is facilitated by the fact that a hinged connection betweenpontoon sections has already been provided.

Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention willbecome apparent from a consideration of the following description, takenin connection with the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 is a somewhat schematic top plan view of an artificial islandaccording to the invention;

FIG. 2 is an elevational view of the structure shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. l but showing the sections of thepontoon swung to a collapsed position for storage or transport;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the universal joint betweenthe sections of the pontoon of FIGS. 1-3, showing also the mounting forthe excavating device;

FIG. 5 is a top plan view of another embodiment of the invention, withthe transport or storage position shown in full lines and the operativeor emplaced position shown in phantom lines; and

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 5 but showing still another embodimentof the invention.

Referring now to the drawing in greater detail, and first with respectto the embodiment of FIGS. 1-4, there is shown an artificial islandaccording to the present invention, comprising a pontoon in two sections1 and 2 interconnected by a hinged connection 3. Section 1 has twocolumns 4 and 5 which can be raised and lowered and locked againstmovement but which cannot be rotated or horizontally moved relative tosection 1. Section 1 also has two rotatable frameworks 6 and 7 withcolumns 8 and 9 disposed eccentrically therein, respectively.

Section 2 has a column 10 which is vertically adjustable and a rotatableframework 1 l carrying a vertically adjustable eccentric column 12.

Power means (not shown) are provided for moving columns 4, 5 and 10vertically relative to their respective pontoon sections and for lockingthem in vertically adjusted positions. Power means (not shown) are alsoprovided for rotating each framework 6, 7 and 11 relative to itsassociated pontoon section about a vertical axis, thereby to move theassociated columns 8, 9 and 12, respectively, horizontally relative totheir associated pontoon sections. Power means (not shown) are alsoprovided for moving the columns 8, 9 and 12 vertically relative to theirrespective rotatable frameworks and for locking those columns invertically adjusted positions, including positions of the pontoonsections above the water level as shown in FIG. 2 and as disclosed inthe above-identified US. patents.

FIG. 1 shows the operative or emplaced position of the island, in whichthe head portion 13 of section 2 abuts the side 14 of section 1. FIG. 3shows the collapsed or transport or storage position of the pontoonsections, in which they are generally parallel to each other, thismovement being achieved by the rotation of the frames 6, 7 and 11.

An excavator in the form of a suction dredge comprises a suction tubehaving a rotary cutter 16 at the lower end thereof driven byconventional means (not shown) to excavate marine soil and convey thesame up tube 15. A hydraulic cylinder and piston assembly 17 swings tube15 vertically to raise and lowercutter 16. Winches (not shown) mountedat the outer ends of sections 1 and 2 operate cables which are securedat their ends to lower ends of columns 9 and 12 and bear against tube 15intermediate their lengths, for the purpose of swinging tube 15laterally.

The upper end of tube 15 is universally connected to the hingedconnection 3, by the structure shown in FIG. 4. Hinged connection 3 notonly interconnects sections 1 and 2 of the pontoon but also provides avertical pivot for a frame 18 which provides a horizontal pivot for theupper end 19 of tube 15 about stub axles 20 carried by frame 18.

Locking means (not shown) can be provided for maintaining the parts inthe FIG. 3 transport or storage position, these locking means includingsupport means for maintaining tube 15 in a raised position.

FIG. 5 shows a plan view of a modified form of the invention comprisingthree sections 21, 22 and 23 hingedly interconnected at 24 and 25. Eachsection has a column 26 which is movable only vertically and a rotatableframework 27 carrying a base 28. In this embodiment, the phantom-lineposition is the operative position and the full-line position is thetransport posit1on.

FIG. 6 shows still another embodiment of the invention in which thepontoon is in three sections 29, and 31, the transport or storageposition being shown in full line in which the sections 29 and 30 areparallel to each other and the section 31 is transverse thereto, theoperative position being shown in phantom lines.

From a consideration of the foregoing disclosure, therefore, it will beevident that all of the initially recited objects of the presentinvention have been achieved.

Although the present invention has been described and illustrated inconnection with preferred embodiments, it is to be understood thatmodifications and variations may be resorted to without departing fromthe spirit of the invention, as those skilled in this art will readilyunderstand. Such modifications and variations are considered to bewithin the purview and scope of the present invention as defined by theappended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. An artificial island comprising a buoyant pontoon and at least threecolumns that are vertically movable relative to the pontoon, the pontoonbeing in a plurality of sections hingedly interconnected with each otherfor horizontal swinging movement relative to each other about a verticalaxis, each of said sections having at least one of said columns, saidsections being elongated and being swingable between relativelycollapsed and relatively extended positions relative to each other, andmeans for moving said pontoon sections vertically relative to saidcolumns to positions above the surface of a body of water on the bottomof which the lower ends of the columns are supported.

2. An artificial island as claimed in claim 1, the hinged connectionbetween the sections being so disposed that the sections are swingablebetween an extended position in which they are disposed at to each otherand abut each other, and a collapsed position in which they are parallelto each other.

3. An artificial island as claimed in claim 1, each said section havingat least two said columns, at least one of said two columns beingmounted eccentrically in a rotatable framework which is carried by saidpontoon and is rotatable about a vertical axis.

4. An artificial island as claimed in claim 1, and an excavating devicecarried by the pontoon for universal swinging movement relative to thepontoon at a point lying on the said vertical axis.

5. An artificial island as claimed in claim 4, said excavating devicecomprising a suction dredge having an elongated tube and a cutter at thelower end of said tube.

6. An artificial island as claimed in claim 4, and a universal joint bywhich said excavating device is mounted for said universal swingingmovement relative to said pontoon, said universal joint comprising avertical pivot and a horizontal pivot, said vertical pivot being commonto said pontoon sections.

7. An artificial island as claimed in claim 1, said sections beingswingable relative to each other between a position in which they are inalignment with each other and a position in which they are disposed atan angle to each other.

8. An artificial island as claimed in claim 7, there being three saidsections.

9. An artificial island as claimed in claim 1, and means for moving atleast some of said columns bodily laterally relative to their associatedsaid sections while maintaining said columns upright.

1. An artificial island comprising a buoyant pontoon and at least threecolumns that are vertically movable relative to the pontoon, the pontoonbeing in a plurality of sections hingedly interconnected with each otherfor horizontal swinging movement relative to each other about a verticalaxis, each of said sections having at least one of said columns, saidsections being elongated and being swingable between relativelycollapsed and relatively extended positions relative to each other, andmeans for moving said pontoon sections vertically relative to saidcolumns to positions above the surface of a body of water on the bottomof which the lower ends of the columns are supported.
 2. An artificialisland as claimed in claim 1, the hinged connection between the sectionsbeing so disposed that the sections are swingable between an extendedposition in which they are disposed at 90* to each other and abut eachother, and a collapsed position in which they are parallel to eachother.
 3. An artificial island as claimed in claim 1, each said sectionhaving at least two said columns, at least one of said two columns beingmounted eccentrically in a rotatable framework which is carried by saidpontoon and is rotatable about a vertical axis.
 4. An artificial islandas claimed in claim 1, and an excavating device carried by the pontoonfor uNiversal swinging movement relative to the pontoon at a point lyingon the said vertical axis.
 5. An artificial island as claimed in claim4, said excavating device comprising a suction dredge having anelongated tube and a cutter at the lower end of said tube.
 6. Anartificial island as claimed in claim 4, and a universal joint by whichsaid excavating device is mounted for said universal swinging movementrelative to said pontoon, said universal joint comprising a verticalpivot and a horizontal pivot, said vertical pivot being common to saidpontoon sections.
 7. An artificial island as claimed in claim 1, saidsections being swingable relative to each other between a position inwhich they are in alignment with each other and a position in which theyare disposed at an angle to each other.
 8. An artificial island asclaimed in claim 7, there being three said sections.
 9. An artificialisland as claimed in claim 1, and means for moving at least some of saidcolumns bodily laterally relative to their associated said sectionswhile maintaining said columns upright.